SC Freiburg vs SC Paderborn 07 preview - Freiburg seek to move further clear

Freiburg can take a determined step towards safety with a win this Saturday, although to do that they must beat a Paderborn side who know they can haul them in with a rare away win.

Only two points separate the two relegation candidates with four games of the season remaining, Freiburg currently sitting above the drop line and Paderborn immediately below it.

Their destiny is therefore in Freiburg's own hands, all the more so in view of their remaining fixtures.

"It's certainly not meaningless that we face three of our direct rivals in our last four games," said Freiburg coach Christian Streich.

"That's not a bad situation to be in. But first of all we have Paderborn and this is going to be a tough game.

"Of course we're going to need to perform to our best if we want to win."

After hosting Paderborn, the Black Forest club travel to Hamburg before hosting Bayern Munich. They end the season at Hannover in what could potentially determine which of the two - if either, or even both - will drop into the second division.

"Paderborn have got nothing to lose," Streich said. "They've done really well this season and they were always strong opponents even in the games they have lost away this season.

"They've got quality and are strong in the tackle, so we're going to have to watch out and make sure we set our own team up correctly."

If any of those tackles take place in the penalty area, Paderborn coach Andre Breitenreiter knows his players have got to win them.

"Freiburg have already had nine penalties this season so we're going to have to play cleverly and hold our nerve," said the Paderborn coach, who is without Florian Hartherz, whose father passed away last weekend.

Meanwhile, Mario Vrancic and Michael Heinloth are suspended, leaving Breitenreiter with fewer options for Saturday's relegation battle.